«The most attractive aspects of a Schenn reacquisition for the Leafs:
1.They know he's a perfect fit for what they need. No one, arguably, has fit more comfortably next to Rielly over the years than Schenn during the 2023 playoffs. Unlike the rest of the names here, the front office doesn't have to hope for a fit-they know they've got one.
Add Schenn, and the rest of the defense slots in as it should:
McCabe - Tanev
Rielly - Schenn
OEL - Timmins/Benoit
McCabe and Tanev can team up as a top-line deterrent, while
Oliver Ekman-Larsson gets more proper slotting, at age 33, on a third pair with either
Conor Timmins or
Simon Benoit.
2.Schenn is totally at ease playing under the spotlight in Toronto and was a valued dressing-room figure during that brief return two years ago.
3.Also appealing is the likely acquisition price. Schenn came at the cost of a third-round pick two years ago. Something in that range still feels about right, given that Schenn is 35 now and under contract for one more season at $2.75 million on the cap. (Some retention feels like a requisite part of any trade.)»